Review on Pharmacological potentials of Prosopis juliflora

Abstract

Prosopis juliflora is one of the most widely used herbal plants in treating diabetes mellitus. This plant mainly belongs to the Leguminosae (Mimosaceae) family. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 80% of the population is still depends upon herbal medicines for their treatment of diseases due to various advantages such as ease of availability, economic and less side effects when compared to allopathic system of medicines. This plant has broad ecological amplitude and is adapted to a wide range of soils. It is generally found in the areas where water and soil fertility are the primary agents limiting plant growth, and is able to survive, and even thrive, on some of the poorest land, unsuitable for any other tree species. The phytoconstituents present in this plant are tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes and steroids. This plant shows various pharmacological activities such as anti-bacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity. The review of this plant suggests that the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids and other secondary metabolites are responsible for its pharmacological activities there for, the plant plays a vital role in maintenance of the human health and wellbeing. The present review deals with various pharmacological effects established on plant P. juliflora